Egg-case.



A. J COUGHENOUR. EGG CASE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 28. 1914.

1,163,394. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

2 30 27 A 28 30 24- 32 3 r z 3 V 7 L La 62 WITIVE88ES INVENTOR 1 fihf/YJCouw/f/raw? M BY M ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOORAFH C0,,wunnw'rou, n.c.

A. J. COUGHENOUR.

EGG CASE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 1914.

1,163 394L Patented De0.7,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS n'r FFEQ,

ALLEN J. GOUGHENOUR, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

EGG-CASE.

Application filed February 28, 1914.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I. ALLEN J. COUGI-IEK- own,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kansas City, inthecounty of Jackson and State of Missouri, have made certain new anduseful Improvements in Egg-Cases, of which the following is aspecification.

lla'ly invention is an improvement in egg cases, and has for its objectto provide a case of the character specifiechedaptcd especially for thetransportation of eggs, incandescent light bulbs, bottle goods, and likefragile articles by parcels post, express or the like, wherein an outercasing is provided, in which is arranged a carrier containing separatecompartments for the individual article, so arranged that the articlesmay not he in contact with each other, and are held against movement inany direction, and wherein cushioning mechanism is interposed betweenthe carri and the casing or container, for absorbing the impact of jarsreceived by the container, so that the shock or jar of the impact is nottransmitted to the article. I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a section, on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3,looking in the direc tion of the arrows, Fig. 2 isa top plan view of oneof the supporting elements for the carrier, Fig. 3. is a top plan viewof the case with the cover removed,Fig. 4C is a sec-' tion on the line4: t of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detail section of a modified construction ofcushioning device, Figs. 6 and 7 are sections similar to FigJlshowingmodified connections between the shaft and the carrier, and Fin. 8 is atransversevertical section of'another modiiication.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a casing of suitablematerial and size, the said casing beingcylindrical in the presentinstance, and comprising a tubular body 1 which may be of any, desiredmaterial, as for instance fiber, a bottom 2, and a cover detachablyconnected with the body at the opposite end from the bottom.

The bottom :2 is of a size to fit within the end of the body 1 of thecasing, and the said bottom is held in place by nails 3 or the like. Thedetachable cover consists of a disk 10f the same material as the bottom,and the disk is provided with a facing 5 onits outer Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Dec. "3, 1915.

Serial No. 821,659.

face of metal, and the facing is flanged at its edges, as shown at 6, toengage the periphery of the disk.

An approximately radial rib 7 is formed by bending the material of thefacing between the flange and the body, and the said rib is shaped tofit over the upper edge of the body, and to engage outside of the same,as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The cover is held in place by a haspconsisting of two portions 8 and 8 arranged at approximately a rightangle with respect to each other, the portion 8 being superposed on thelining or facing 5 of the cover, and secured thereto by bolts 9 or thelike, while the portion 8 of the hasp is adapted to fit outside of thebody, and is provided with a longitudinal slot for receiving a staple10.

A second hasp 11 is hinged to a plate 12 which is secured to the coverby means of bolts 13, at a point diametrically opposite the hasp 88 andthe hasp 11 is provided with a longitudinal slot for receiving a staple1 on the body. Padlocks or any other suitable fastening means may be,en'- gaged with the staples outside of the hasps to detachably hold thecover in place, and it is obvious that any other desired form ofconnecting means might be used, instead of the hasps and staples.

A step bearing 15 is secured to the bottom 2 at the center thereof, bymeans of rivets 16, and the lower end of a standard or shaft 17 isreceived in the step bearing. A rivet 18 is passed transversely of thelowerendof the shaft and the bearing, to hold the shaft in place. Thecover is provided with a central opening 19, through which theupper endof the shaft extends, and the said upper end is threaded, as shown at20and is engaged by a nut 21 above the cover. The shaft thus assists'inlocking the cover in place,since the said shaft is secured at one end tothe bottom and at the other end to the cover. p

A pair of supports is mounted on the shaft, and the carrier for thearticles is connected with the support. Thecarrier for the article is ofannular form, and comprises a tube or cylinder 22 of fiber or othersuitable material, which is arranged con centric with the shaft17, andthe ends of the tube are connected withthesupports be fore mentioned.The supports are similar but oppositelyarranged. Each of the sup portscomprises a body 23 and radial arms 24, the said arms being atapproximately a right angle with respect to each other, and the body ofthe support is provided with a cup-shaped or circular depression 25 atits center, and with an opening 26 at the center of the depresslon.

The depressions 25 are of a size to fit within the ends of the tube, andthe lowermost support isesecured to the tube, by means depression withthe body of the flanges 30 and 31 of the lowermost holder for thearticle engages the upper face of the said rmg, the flange 30 near theinner edge of the ring, and the flange 31' near the outeredge. Thearticles 33 are held in pockets 34 formed in the plates 29 of theholders, and shaped approximately to fit the article. Each of thepockets is lined With a layer 35 vof felt or like material, shaped tofit the pocket, and the holders are preferably formed of some materialcapable of taking a plastic form, as for instance papier-mach, pasteboard or the like.

Each holder is completed by a cover consisting of a plate 36 ofannular-form and adapted to fit around the tube 22 in the same manner asin the holder just described,

, and each plate is provided with depending flanges 37 and 38 at itsinner and outer edges, and the said flanges engage the plate 129 of theholder at the inner and outer edges thereof. Each holder thus consistsof the body or holder and the cover, each cover resting upon the body orholder, and each succeeding holder resting upon the cover ofthepreceding holder. I

A ring 39 of felt or other suitable material is arranged within eachcover, the said rings 39 engaging and resting upon the article. Theshafts 17 pass through the opening 26 of the supports, and the supportsare cushioned against the bottom and the cover of thecontainer. Theopenings 26 of the support are of much greater diameter than the shaft,and the lower support is supported by a, bracket consisting of a ring orcollar-40 which encircles the shaft loosely, and is flanged, at eachend, as shown at 41.

A'pair of arms is connected with the collar, each ofthesaid arms beingarched out- Ward intermediate its ends, as shown at 42,

to fit the collar between the flanges, and the arms are connected onopposite sides ofthe collar by means of rivets 43 or the like.

, The ends of the arms are bent into approxithe web 28 which connectsthe bottom of the depression with the body of the support, as shown inFig. 4. A similar mechanism is arranged above the upper support, thesaid mechanism comprising a collar 40, encircling the shaft and havingflanges at its ends, together with the arms 42--44, and the rivets 43.The ends 44 of the arms engage he bottom of the depression, and areabove the bottom, but occupy precisely the same relative position as thearms and collar at the lowermost support. ,Were the carrier reversed, sothat the cover were at the bottom, the-collar and the arms at the topwould occupy exactly the same position as the collar and the arms at thebottom.

Coil springs 45 are arranged between each support and the adjacent endof the container or outer casing. The upperspring 45 is arranged betweenthe cover and the arms 42 -44, while the lowermost spring is arrangedbetween the lowermost arms.

42.-44 and the step bearing. Preferably v the arms 24 of the supportsare reinforced by headings 46, the said beadings being near the edges ofthe arms, as shown.

It will be evident that the carrier for the articles,.that is thesupports 23-24, and the holders for the eggs is cushioned with respectto the container or outer casing, in

such manner that any shock or jar imparted to the outer casing will beabsorbed by the cushion, and will not be transmitted to the articlessupported by the carrier. The articles are furthermore cushioned againstthe holders or carrier, being surrounded by felt on every side. Evenwere the container re'e lit-(1 versed, that is arranged wrong endupward,

the arrier would yet be cushioned.

To assemble the carrier, that is to pack the articles, they are placedin the respective pockets commencing with the lowermostportion of thelowermost holder, and the carrier is built up, until the topmost cover3637-.38 is in place. The uppermost support is then placed, after whichthe uppermost collar and the spring 45 may be arranged. The cover isthen placed, after which the nut 21 is threaded onto the upper end ofthe shaft. It

will be-noted from an inspection of Fig. 3,

that one and one-half dozen of eggs may be placed 1n each holder, sothat four and onehalf dozens may be held in a carrier contain- I ingthree holders.

It will be obvious that-by lengthening the container, thecapacity of thedevice as a whole may be greatly increased. Thesprings mustcorrespond'in strength to the weight of the carrier and the articles tobe supported. Preferably the pockets 84- are shaped roughly to fit thearticles, and with bottled goods or incandescent globes the said pocketswould have slightly different shapes.

In Fig. 5 a modified construction of cushioning device is shown. In thisconstruction, the shaft 17 is supported at its lower end in a stepbearing 15- which is secured to the bottom 2 of the outer casing. Thesupport 47, corresponding to the support 2324 of Fig. 1 differsslightlyfrom the said support, in that the opening at the center of thedepression is of larger area than'the opening 26. The collar 40 isprovided at each end with flanges 41" and 48 respectively, the latterflange being of greaterextent than the former. The collar encircles theshaft as shown, and the shaft is provided with a longitudinal series ofopenings 49, through one of which is passed a pin 50 for limiting themovement of the collar. Coil springs 51 are arranged between the flange48 of the collar and the support, each spring being connected at one endto the flange of the collar and at the other to the support.

In both embodiments of the invention the carrier as a Whole may be movedlaterally to a limited extent with respect to the shaft 17 or 17. Inthe'construction of Fig. 1, this movement is cushioned by the curvedportions 44 of the arms 42-44, the said arms being resilient. In theconstruction of Fig. 5, the springs 51 cushion the lateral movement andalso cushion the vertical movement. The collar 40 is'limited in itsmovement by the pin 50, and when the collar strikes the pin, the springs51 are placed under tension, thus cushioning the movement of the carrierlongitudinally of the shaft. In either construction the carrier may movefreely with respect tothe container within limits, but movementin anydirection is cushioned, so that all jar and shock is absorbed. y e e InFig. 6, the collar 52 corresponding to the collar 40 is cushionedagainst the support 53 corresponding to the support 23,24, by means of acylinder 54 which is connected to one flange of the collar, and a piston55 moving in the cylinder, and having its stem 56 connected. to thesupport, A coil spring 57 encircles the stem between thepiston and theouter end of the cylinder. In Fig. 7 links 58 and 59 are connected withthe collar 52, and with the support 53 respectively. Ea'rchlirik isprovided with a lateralbearing plate 60 at its inner end, through whichtheother link slides, and a coil spring 61 is arranged between the bearing plates, the spring encircling both "links.

In Fig. 8 the shaft is provided with a Washer 62, held inplace by a pin63 are ranged transversely of the shaft, and a ring 64 provided withinwardly extending resilientfingers 65 is arranged between the support53 and the washer. The inner ends of the fingers are provided witharches 66, whose convex surface is adjacent to the shaft, and whose freeends are adjacent to the washer.

The operation of Figs. 6 and 7 will be obvious from the description, aswill also be that of Fig. 8. In the three constructions the carrier iscushioned against both lateral and vertical movement. The coil springs45 may be used with the embodiments shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, toassist in the cushioning efiect.

I claim 1. A container for the transportation of fragile articles,comprising a circular casing having a removable cover at one end, ashaft arranged at the aXisof the casing and se cured thereto at thebottom of the casing, a detachable connection between the shaft andthe'cover, a carrier of annular form encircling the shaft, the centralopening of the carrier being of greater diameter than the shaft, and ayielding connection between the carrier and the shaft, for cushioningmovement of the carrier laterally and longitudinally with respect to theshaft.

2. A container for the transportation of fragilearticles, comprising acircular casing having a removable cover at one end, a shaft arranged atthe axis of the casing and seoured'thereto at the bottom of the casing,the cover having a central opening through which the shaft is adapted toextend, and the said end of the shaft being threaded, a nut engaging theshaft to clamp the cover in place, a carrier of annular form encirclingthe shaft, the central opening ofthe carrier being of greater diameterthan the shaft, and a yielding connection between the carrier and theshaft, for cushioning movement of the carrier laterally andlongitudinally with respect to the shaft, said connection comprising acollar on the shaft at each end of the carrier, springs arranged betweeneach collar and the carrier, for cushioning the movement. of the collartoward the adj acent end of the container and for cushion.- ing movementofthe carrier laterally with respect to the shaft.

' SQ A container for the transportation of fragile articles, comprisinga circular casing having a removable cover at one end, a shaft arrangedat the axis of the casing and secured. thereto at the bottom of thecasing, the cover havinga central opening through which the shaft isadapted to extend, and the said end of thcsliaft being threaded, a nutengaging the shaft to clamp the cover in place, a carrier of annularform en'- circling the shaft, the central opening of the carrier beingof greater diameter than the shaft, and ayieldingconnectionbetween the;fragile articles, comprising a substantially cylindrical casing havinga detachable cover at one end, ashaft held at the axis of the casing, acarrier for the articles of annular form arranged W thin the containerand encircling the shaft, and cushioning mechanisms arranged between thecarrier at each end thereof and the shaft, each of the said mechanismscomprising a collar movable on the shaft, and springs arranged betweenthe collar and the carrier.

5. A container for the transportation of fragile articles, comprising asubstantially cylindrical casing having a detachable cover at one end, ashaft held at the aXis of the casing, a carrier for the articles ofannular form arranged Within the container and encircling the shaft, andcushioning mechanism arranged between the carrier at each end thereofand the shaft.

6. An egg carrier of annular form and comprising a series of superposedunits, each unit comprising a holder and a cover, each of the holderscomprising an annular plate having depressed pockets in its upper facefor receivingthe articles, and having at each side edge a dependingflange of approximately the same depth as the pockets and adapted toengage an annular support,

each cover being of annular form and having depending flanges forengaging the upper face of the plate of the holder at each side thereof,a lining of cushioning material for the under face of each cover, and acentral tube fitting the central openings of the holders. 7

7. An egg carrier of annular form and comprising a series of superposedunits, each unit comprising a holder and a cover, each of the holderscomprising an annular plate having depressed pockets in its upper facefor receiving the articles,and having at each side edge a dependingflange of approximately the same depth as the pockets and adapted toengage an annular support, each cover being of annular form andvliavingdepending flanges for engaging the upper face of the plate of the holderat each side edge thereof, and a lining of cushioning material for theunder face of each cover.

8. An egg carrier of annular form and comprising a series of superposedunits, each unit comprising a holder and a cover, each of the holderscomprising an annular plate having depressed pockets in its upper facefor receiving the articles, and having at each side edge a dependingflange of approxi mately the same depth as the pockets and adapted toengage an annular support, each cover being of annular form and havingdepending flanges for engaging the upperface of the plate of theholderat reach side. edgethereof.

7 9. An egg carrier of annular form and, comprising a series ofsuperposed units, each unit comprising a holder and a cover, eachl oftheholders comprising an annular plate:

having depressed pockets in" its upper face for receiving the'articles,and having at each s1de edge a depending flange of ap-' proximately thesame depth as the pockets and adapted to engage an annular support 10.An egg carrier unit comprising a holder and a cover, the holdercomprising an annular plate having pockets in its up 7 per face for thearticles, and having at each side edge a depending fiange'of approxi"-;mately the same depth as the pockets, the,

cover being of annular form and having de pending flanges for engagingthe upper face" of the holder at each side edge thereof, a. lining ofcushioning material for each pocket, and a lining of cushioning materialfor the cover. 7

11.. An egg carrier unit compr sing a holder and a cover, the holdercomprismg an annular plate having pockets in its upper face for thearticles, and having at each side edge a depending flange ofapproximately the same depth as the pockets, the cover being of annularform and having depending flanges for engaging theupper face of the baseat each side edge thereof;

12. An egg carrier unit comprising a base and a cover, the basecomprising an annularplate having pockets-in its upper face for thearticles, and having at each side edge a depending flange ofapproximately the same depth as the pockets.

13. A container for the transportation of fragile articles, comprising asubstantially cylindrical casing, a shaft at the axis of the casing, anannular carrier for the articles, and a connection between the carrierand the shaft for cushioning the carrier against the container, saidconnection comprising a col lar on the shaft at each endof the carrier,a support at each end of the carrier, and ayielding connection betweeneach collar and the ad aCent support.

14. A container for the transportation of;-

fragile articles, comprising a substantially cylindrical casing, a shaftat the axis of the casing, an annular carrier for the articles, and aconnection between the carrier and the shaft for cushioning the carrieragainst the container.

15. A container forthe transportation of fragilearticles, comprising acasing, a shaft held in vertical position at approximately the center ofthe casing, a carrier for the articles having a central opening throughwhich the shaft extends, and cushioning mechanism between the shaft andthe carrier. 7 v

16. A container for the transportation of fragilearticles, comprising ashaft, a sup port for the shaft for holding the same in approximatelyvertical position, a carrier for the articles having a central openingfor receiving the shaft, and cushioning mechanism arranged between theshaft and the carrier.

17. A container for the transportation of fragile articles, comprising acentral support, a carrier for the articles having a 10 central openingthrough Which the support extends, and cushioning mechanism arrangedbetween the support and the carrier:

ALLEN J. COUGHENOUR.

Witnesses F. D. GLOBE, A. F. COUGHENOUR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patentsr Washington, D. 0.

